BPBA Pays Tribute To Rickai Raynor
[Written by Elizabeth Waldron]
It is with profound sadness that we pay tribute to Rickai “Pugi” Raynor, whose passion for racing and love of life left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.
Rickai began his racing career in 2016 as a co-pilot aboard D420, alongside driver Kentwoin Jones.
As a young man with an undeniable need for speed, racing was something he embraced wholeheartedly.
The faster, the better – that was Rickai. He raced aboard D420 until the boat was sold.
He next moved onto B100 with Rodrae Butterfield in 2017 and in 2018 he raced Howard Ascento’s boat with Donny Raynor as his copilot.
Several years ago, Rickai purchased his own vessel, B71, a 23ft Bat Boat.
He dedicated countless hours to restoring, refining, and learning every aspect of the boat.
B71 first took to racing with his father, Ricky, by his side.
After spending time out of the race season making improvements and ensuring everything was just right, the boat made its return to competition at the Dockyard Race two years ago.
This 2026 season, Rickai came back as driver with Shannon Caisey as his copilot.
Rickai was known as much for his personality as he was for his racing.
A natural joker with an infectious smile, he was surrounded by a wide circle of friends, many of whom featured in his endless videos and shared in his adventures.
Whether he was on a bike or behind the wheel of a race boat, Rickai was known for his love of speed and his unforgettable “popping.”
On race day, he could proudly be heard saying, It’s ready! – a reflection of the pride he took in the hard work and dedication that went into getting B71 performing at its best.
The executives and members of the BPBA family are struggling to come to terms with the tragic loss of such a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky young man.
His laughter, quick wit, and vibrant presence at the races will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
As a fitting tribute to Rickai, plans are underway for a memorial race in his honour.
We know he would want us to continue doing what he loved most-racing.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his mother, Karen; his father, Ricky; his brothers, Jache and Davon; the loves of his life, his daughter Kailee and son Koa; and to his entire family and countless friends.
May they find comfort in the memories they shared and in knowing that Rickai’s spirit will forever live on in the racing community.
Rest easy, Pugi. Your legacy will continue to race with us always.
